Bristol, RI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bristol: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bristol and Bristol County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Bristol County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 39 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Bristol County compares with Rhode Island
Bristol County against Rhode Island and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Bristol County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Bristol County | Rhode Island | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 6.5 | 14.2 | 49.7 | 54% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.0 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 100% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.67 | 0.64 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 13.9% | 4.6% | 2.3% | 3.0× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.8% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 50% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.6% | 28.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.9% | 14.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 33.3% | 40.9% | 41.9% | 19% below the state |
| After dark | 5.6% | 19.0% | 24.8% | 71% below the state |
Bristol County sits below Rhode Island on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Rhode Island on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Bristol County: 1 in 7 crashes involve a garbage truck (6 since 2015), vs 4.6% across Rhode Island.
Overview
Bristol County has recorded 39 truck crashes since 2015, with 24 people injured and 0 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 112 days.
Bristol had 15 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Bristol County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (15.4% of the year) and are lowest in May (0.0%).
November through March accounts for 33.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in Rhode Island.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 15.4% of truck crashes.
2.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 5.6% across Rhode Island.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bristol since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-24 (2), US-6 (2), 640 Sodom Road (1), Brayton Ave (1) and I-195 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
6 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 15.4% share (Rhode Island: 4.6%).
Route planning tips for Bristol fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Bristol County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.6% of truck crashes here, more than Rhode Island; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Bristol County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-24 | 2 |
| US-6 | 2 |
| 640 Sodom Road | 1 |
| Brayton Ave | 1 |
| I-195 | 1 |
| Jefferson Bl | 1 |
| Joseph Dr | 1 |
| Roger Williams Way | 1 |
| SR-12 | 1 |
| SR-138 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Bristol County) |
|---|---|
| Metacom Ave | 9 |
| Main St | 5 |
| County Rd | 4 |
| Market St | 4 |
| Hope St | 3 |
| Child St | 2 |
| Metacom Av | 2 |
| Adams St | 1 |
Bristol at a glance
| Population | 22,023 |
| Land area | 9.8 sq mi |
| Density | 2,250 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 02809) | $97,764 |
| Median home value (ZIP 02809) | $484,554 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Bristol County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 6 | +1323% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 4 | -41% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 3 | -12% | 0.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 2000s and 3 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bristol
How many truck accidents are there in Bristol?
39 truck crashes have been reported in Bristol County since 2015, with 0 deaths and 24 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Bristol?
January has the most truck crashes in Bristol County, 15.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Bristol?
Garbage trucks were involved in 6 reported crashes in Bristol County since 2015 (15.4% of truck crashes).
How does Bristol compare with Rhode Island for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 6.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Bristol County, vs 14.2 for Rhode Island.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Bristol?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.